The air in Mississippi during late November usually tastes like woodsmoke, fried turkey, and pure, unadulterated spite. If you’ve ever spent five minutes in Jackson, Oxford, or Starkville, you know exactly what I’m talking about. We’re talking about the Battle for the Golden Egg. People have been losing their minds over this game since 1901, and the 2024 edition was no exception. Honestly, the biggest headache for fans this year wasn't the tailgating—it was actually figuring out when to turn on the TV.
For years, the Egg Bowl was a Thanksgiving night staple. You ate your dressing, argued with your uncle, and then settled in to watch some of the meanest football in the SEC. But 2024 threw a massive wrench into that tradition.
Egg Bowl 2024 Date and Time: The Big Shift
So, let’s clear the air. The Egg Bowl 2024 date and time was officially Friday, November 29, 2024, with a kickoff at 2:30 p.m. CT.
Wait, Friday? Yeah.
For the first time in a while, the SEC and its broadcast partners decided to move the game off the actual holiday. It shifted to Black Friday. While some fans loved not having to rush through dinner to get to the stadium, purists were... well, they were less than thrilled. The game was broadcast nationally on ABC, marking a change from the usual ESPN night slot we’d grown accustomed to.
It was a weird vibe. Afternoon sun hitting Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford instead of the usual chilly night air under the lights. But the intensity? That didn't change a bit.
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Why the Change Mattered
The shift to a 2:30 p.m. slot on Black Friday was a calculated move by the SEC. They wanted that massive afternoon audience that’s usually out shopping or nursing a food coma. It put the Rebels and the Bulldogs front and center on a day dominated by huge matchups.
If you were looking for the game on Saturday—which is when the "official" schedule originally listed it with a "subject to change" asterisk—you likely missed the first half. Or the whole thing. It was a classic case of why you've gotta check the flex scheduling.
What Happened on the Field
Ole Miss came into this game as heavy favorites. Mississippi State, under first-year coach Jeff Lebby (who, ironically, was the former offensive coordinator at Ole Miss), was having a rough go of it. They were 2-9. They hadn't won an SEC game all year. On paper, it should have been a blowout.
Football is rarely played on paper.
The Bulldogs came out swinging. They actually led 14-10 at the end of the first quarter. It was gritty. It was "ugly" in that beautiful, defensive-struggle kind of way. State used a fake punt and some high-risk plays to stun the Rebels early. Lane Kiffin looked stressed. The Oxford crowd was getting restless.
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Then, Ulysses Bentley IV happened.
Midway through the second quarter, Bentley took a handoff and basically vanished. He broke loose for an 89-yard touchdown run—the longest in the SEC that season. It was the spark Ole Miss needed. From that point on, the Rebel defense turned into a brick wall. They didn't allow another point for the rest of the game.
A Historic Milestone for Jaxson Dart
You can't talk about the 2024 Egg Bowl without mentioning Jaxson Dart. He didn't have his "cleanest" game, throwing for only 143 yards, but those yards were heavy. With a 17-yard pass to Jordan Watkins in the second quarter, Dart officially passed the legendary Eli Manning to become the all-time passing leader in Ole Miss history.
Think about that. In a rivalry game, against your biggest enemy, you take the crown from an NFL legend. That’s the kind of stuff they build statues for.
Ole Miss eventually ground out a 26-14 victory. It wasn't the high-flying offensive explosion people expected from Kiffin, but it kept their College Football Playoff hopes alive and kept the Golden Egg in Oxford for another year.
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The Reality of the Rivalry
One thing most outsiders get wrong about the Egg Bowl is thinking it’s just another game. It isn't. This isn't the Iron Bowl where there’s a sense of "respectful" hatred. This is different.
In 2024, Mississippi State was essentially playing for their pride. They wanted to ruin Ole Miss’s season. And they almost did. Even with a talent gap, the Bulldogs' defensive scheme—using three safeties to take away the long ball—forced Dart to be patient. It forced Ole Miss to run the ball, which they did to the tune of 254 yards.
The game ended with a goal-line stand. State was inside the 5-yard line, trying to make it a one-score game late. The Rebels stopped them four times in a row. That’s the Egg Bowl in a nutshell: raw, physical, and decided by inches in the dirt.
Final Game Stats at a Glance
- Final Score: Ole Miss 26, Mississippi State 14
- Venue: Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxford, MS
- Attendance: 67,896 (A total sellout)
- Key Performer: Ulysses Bentley IV (136 rushing yards, 1 TD)
- Turnover Margin: Ole Miss +3 (This was the real killer for State)
Looking Ahead
If you're planning for future years, don't assume the game is staying on Black Friday forever. The SEC loves to move things around based on TV contracts. However, the 2024 experiment proved that the 2:30 p.m. ABC slot carries a ton of weight.
For Mississippi State, the 2024 Egg Bowl was the end of a long, difficult season, finishing 2-10. For Ole Miss, it was a 9-3 finish that propelled them into the postseason conversation.
If you're heading to the game next year, or just watching from home, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Download the SEC App: Kickoff times for the "Rivalry Week" games are often finalized only 12 days in advance.
- Book Oxford/Starkville Hotels Early: We're talking a year in advance. If you wait until the season starts, you'll be staying an hour away in a Motel 6.
- Expect the Unexpected: As Lane Kiffin said after the game, "Weird things happen in these Egg Bowls." No matter the records, it’s always a fight.
The 2024 edition proved that even in a "down" year for one team, the Golden Egg brings out a level of desperation you just don't see in January bowl games. It’s about bragging rights for the next 365 days. And in Mississippi, that’s more valuable than any trophy.